>Just out of curiosity, I'm not a big advocate of alcohol consumption, :-) but doesn't it seem contradictory that it's acceptable to send a young man into battle possibly to die, but not give the privilege of drinking.

I think it works more like the Speed Limit, if they want you to drive 70, they make it 65. If they only want 18 and 19 year olds drinking, they make it 21, otherwise, you'd see alot more 15 and 16 year olds drinking.